Highway driving in a Td5

[akula]

Hi all,

I have test driven a Td5 in flat 100 zones, but due to the constraints of test driving, I couldn't really determine how it would cope with overtaking and maintaining speed limits in hilly areas. I am a little worried as they don't seem too spritely in standard form (I can't afford chipping at the moment, if ever).

I was wondering if D2 Td5 drivers could share their experience on how they go with highway speeds and overtaking, especially in hilly areas (I regularly drive Tamworth - Newcastle).

Any comments appreciated.

Cheers,

Mark

[RR P38]

Around town (traffic light to light) my Td5 auto was just as fast and tractable as my P38.
On the highway it will cruise at whatever you want it to....even 140.
Its not too bad on the hills so long as you are active on the shift and keep it on song. But accelerate it will not, if you are on a hill at 90k it will take for ever to pull to 100, they make a lot of noise and go no where.
Overtaking at 100-110 on the flat it will do it but you need plenty of room.
Compared to a V8 its dreadful in overtaking situations.
Up to 80k they are great.
Having said all the negative things about the TD5 it is a very good highway car and cruises well.
If you are a sedate driver the smokey noisy oil burning 2.5 litre tractor engine is for you:wasntme:

[Graeme]

The manual gearbox makes them better at higher speed overtaking but the improvement of a remapped ecu makes a world of difference when overtaking especially if towing even a light box trailer. The remap made my manual vehicle much safer for overtaking and allowed the use of a higher gear with less engine screaming resulting in a much more relaxing drive.

[justinc]

Sorry I have to mention this important fact, If you feel a $500 to $600 ECU upgrade is never on the cards due to cost only, then you should rethink buying one of these cars if you are intending paying for repairs and maintenance, and doing none of it yourself.

JC

[greg smith]

A great car on the highway I have driven from far north queensland to nsw a number of times with and without a small van. A great vehicle comfortable and good road handling BUT if you can't afford the upgrade--which I have on mine{and I consider unnesessary} don't buy a D2 just a oil change with filters will set you back around $200 for parts and oil alone! :o

[Xtreme]

I regularly drive a Td5 Disco between Hornsby and Narrabri (505kms) and average between 95 and 100 KPH. Overtaking is not a problem provided it is well planned, especially on hills.

[99TD5]

As mentioned above they are not speed machines on the highway, mine will happily cruise all day at highway speeds but you really need to be patient when it comes to over taking :p

Planning on a few upgrades down the track but happy to just take my time until then.

[bell1975]

If you are a sedate driver the smokey noisy oil burning 2.5 litre tractor engine is for you:wasntme:

Oooohhhh, that hurts!

Comments re maintenance costs, costs of ownership being high, particularly on higher kilometre vehicles, are all very valid.

There are a few things that you could get a competent LR mechanic to look at pre-purchase in order to assess if the vehicle you are looking at has issues that will affect performance (eg. turbo hoses delaminating/cracking/perishing is one).

[Disco Muppet]

Erm...well....
In my stock (AFAIK) Td5, overtaking is no problem....
knock the auto back to 3rd or hit sport, you don't need that long....
Love my Td5, wouldn't trade it for anything, and I do upwards of 500km a week in it :)

[strangy]

My 7seat manual TD5 full with family and gear had no trouble o/taking anywhere. Ranges around Toowoomba didn't phase it in the slightest.
Easily cruised at 140 ( NT open speed)
After adding BullBar, Sliders, lift and Snorkel it wouldn't accelerate as fast but happily sat on 130 all day.

At these speeds over taking often requires plenty of room regardless of performance.
Always liked the plumes of smoke which suddenly came from a cruiser once they realised I was going around them.

I

[BIG O]

Ditto to all the above replys . Very safe car on highway. Think through and plan your overtaking as you should anyway and there is no reason to feel unsafe .

[akula]

Sorry I have to mention this important fact, If you feel a $500 to $600 ECU upgrade is never on the cards due to cost only, then you should rethink buying one of these cars if you are intending paying for repairs and maintenance, and doing none of it yourself.

JC

That's an excellent point - and another point I have been wondering about. I guess I am half-hearted about buying a D2 (although I would love one) for the maintenance/running costs - hence all my questions in the last 2 weeks or so.

Nonetheless, I am okay at repairs, and I am keen to learn more about maintenance I can perform myself, so maybe it is still a viable proposition.

In regards to chipping, the ecu is the PBS type, which apparently ideally needs to be changed to the NNN type, furthermore there seems to further costs involved such as larger intercoolers, engine monitoring systems etc required - these costs seem to endless - hence my reservation about upgrades. Please feel free to convince me how easy and cheap it is, as it sure sound like this needs to be done for what I want the car to do.

Cheers,

Mark

[Disco Muppet]

NNN ecu is "flashable" i.e it can be altered with a nanocom or similar, the earlier ECUs need to be physically re-wired.
Do you need to go to larger intercoolers?
Short answer no.
Chipped Td5s tend to warp manifolds more easily, as they tend to knock the EGTs up, so an EGT gauge is a good idea.
Low water alarm/ engine saver such as the one Inc. sells in the shop is basically a must for a Td5, I'm kicking myself for not fitting one after I dumped 5 litres of coolant yesterday.
Main reason I haven't chipped mine is my insurance is already upwards of 2k, performance chip would only sky-rocket it more. :mad:

[bob10]

If doing the work yourself, a full set of filters , oil, fuel, air & rotor, aftermarket from the UK, will set you back $24.16 [c] , premium filters, $41.[ Premium being Mahle air & rotor, coopers fuel, Mann air.] 5 litres Valvoline synthetic, 5W/40, from my local LR specialist, $ 59. Most pundits say oil change every 10,000 KM's. If you buy one, essential items are a RAVE DVD, and access to THE GOOD OIL. Cost of running a D2 very much depends on how much you are prepared to do yourself. BEWARE, they are addictive, and can be a real challenge if you don't take the time to find out how they work. Do I like mine , :D:D:D:D:D:D occasionaly :mad:, Bob

[Disco Muppet]

Even if you go for genuine filters (which I do, filters and oil are cheap), say a service costs you $200.
You'd be paying at least double that to get someone else to do it and it's dead easy.
Cheap insurance IMHO.

[discolaw]

Ignoring the old joke about landrovers turning drivers into mechanics, when I bought my D2a I knew very little about how it all worked but info from this site and other LR sites worldwide with "how to's" & photos has been a real $ saver. Urban Panzers site and similar have allowed me to do many maintenance and repair jobs I would never have the confidence & knowledge to do otherwise. Hats off to all these guys. Do some research and you'll save a lot of $'s

[djam1]

I second Justins comment about cost of running.
If a $340 ECU flash is out of the question it may not be the path which to go down.
TD5s are not getting any younger and the early ones are starting to exhibit their traits with plastic dowells and other things.

[justinc]

Don't get me wrong they are a great vehicle, ESPECIALLY highway touring when compared to the opposition. A base line chip upgrade will not require big intercooling and exhaust mods bla bla, and they DO NOT damage the engine. They are however a very worthwhile addition.

BUT as Duane points out UNLESS you are doing your own basic maintenance and are prepared to give anything a go with the help of us here, then they are a worthwhile buy. DO NOT go into D2 ownership with a low bank balance and no mechanical aptitude is what I was really trying to say in the earlier post.

JC